Author: Michael Darling
Over the summer, the brilliant comedian George Carlin died. Most of his obituaries made reference to Carlin’s famous and controversial “Seven Dirty Words” routine. Although this isn’t Carlin’s greatest routine, it is a fitting example of some of his best work because it deals with the nature of language in our society. Ironically, because the words used are considered “dirty,” they could not be directly referenced in Carlin’s tributes and eulogies. Oftentimes, when the word was referenced, the writer would become involved in a careful tango describing the word but not actually saying it.
Upon my return to Oxy, I found out that during training, RAs and O-Team Leaders were instructed to not use certain words that might be construed as offensive. O-Team Leaders were told not to refer to their co-ed O-groups as “you guys” because that could be thought of as sexist. RAs have been instructed not to use the word “gypped” because that word, meaning to swindle or to cheat, could be seen as a slur against the Gypsies or Roma.
Oxy has a fun way of changing language. Perhaps the word “dorm” has a dirty, messy implication. So we don’t have “dorms,” we have “Residence Halls.” Yes, that sounds infinitely cleaner. The words “freshmen” and “upperclassmen” could be sexist due to the men part, so we have the awkward sounding “first-years” and “upperclasspeople.” Even our government uses synonyms in place of the actual words. The U.S. government does not “torture,” we merely practice “aggressive interrogation tactics.” Eventually it all begins to sound like Newspeak. It would be plusgood not to say anything or we’ll be guilty of crimethink.
So, why are we offended and scared of certain words? Why do we deem some words as bad? Since childhood we’ve been taught the old line that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” yet we condemn a few choice words as bad. Even what we find vulgar has changed over time. Take the word “scumbag,” for instance. It’s not the most commonly used word, and it’s not too offensive, but it’s still a great insult. Well, in the Apr. 3, 2006 New York Times crossword 43-Down had the clue “scoundrel” with the answer “scumbag.” This generated a couple dozen angry e-mails from readers who objected to the use of a vulgarity in the hallowed puzzle. What was this vulgarity? Well, unbeknownst to most crossword enthusiasts and Times puzzle editor Will Schortz, the word “scumbag” has its origins as a synonym for “condom.” If some words become less offensive over time, then who’s to say that any words are actually offensive?
There’s a randomness to the way in which we determine what words are dirty. About fifteen years ago, you couldn’t say “bitch” on television – now it’s acceptable. Carlin points out in his monologue that the word “tits” sounds more like a snack treat than a curse word. It doesn’t sound vulgar and its meaning is not vulgar, so what makes it vulgar? Once a word becomes commonplace it loses its sting.
So perhaps the way to end the badness of certain words is to overuse them to the point where no one cares if they’re said. The meanings of most of the seven dirty words aren’t particularly vulgar, so what makes the word vulgar? Meanwhile, words with truly terrible meanings like “rape,” “war” and “genocide” can be said without anyone batting an eye.
Words are nothing more that assorted symbols put together to form sound ideas. We might assign certain meanings to them, but those meanings can change. So, instead of coming up with offensively silly alternatives to words like “freshman,” which have no inherent villainy, let us consider the meaning, not the messenger. For as long as you find yourself offended by certain words, those words will be offensive. But, if we decide to just let them go and forget that there’s a small possible negative connotation, then these words will probably go away out of our sheer boredom with them.
Let’s liberate words from the bad word gulag. We can make the world a less profane place by taking the perceived profane meaning out of profanity.
Michael Darling is a junior History major. He can be reached at mdarling@oxy.edu.
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